witty
Americanadjective
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possessing wit in speech or writing; amusingly clever in perception and expression.
a witty writer.
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characterized by wit.
a witty remark.
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British Dialect. intelligent; clever
adjective
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characterized by clever humour or wit
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archaic intelligent or sensible
Related Words
See humorous 1.
Other Word Forms
- wittily adverb
- wittiness noun
Etymology
Origin of witty
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English wittig originally, “wise”; see wit 1, -y 1
Explanation
A witty remark is clever and funny and timed just right. When you make such a remark, you are also considered to be witty. The adjective witty can be used to describe those quick little funny remarks that often demonstrate a sharp, biting humor delivered in a playful manner. Witty usually describes things that are off-the-cuff amusing, rather than remarks that are elaborate or carefully planned in advance. This adjective is usually used in a complimentary way, but, like its cousin clever, it can be used sarcastically, as when someone who doesn't appreciate your one-liners says, "Well, aren't we witty today."
Vocabulary lists containing witty
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 2
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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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"Everyday Use" by Alice Walker
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Flaherty is so witty he might be able to do a comedy routine, with Spalding serving as his wing man.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026
BBC Culture film reviewer Nicolas Barber described the space epic as "a mind-stretching sci-fi" that manages to be "zippily entertaining" throughout, while Empire called it "witty, wise and preposterously entertaining".
From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026
The British photographer Martin Parr transformed moments from the everyday world into vibrant, witty tableaux.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026
It has received mostly positive reviews so far, with Empire calling it "witty, wise and preposterously entertaining", whilst Deadline says it is "a mission accomplished, an engaging piece of science fiction".
From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026
She was a demanding, witty, spry woman who was the first white person I ever had an ongoing dialogue with about music and literature, which she enjoyed greatly.
From "The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother" by James McBride
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
